Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Thought for Today“You never know what's around the corner. It could be everything. Or it
could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and
then one day you look back and you've climbed a mountain.” ~ Tom Hiddleston

Suggested Reading

Book: The Mark of the Lion TrilogyAuthor: Francine Rivers
I absolutely love this historical Christian fiction series and have read it over and over. Definitely my favorite!A Voice in the Wind
The first book in the bestselling Mark of the Lion series, A Voice in the Wind
brings readers back to the first century and introduces them to a
character they will never forget—Hadassah. Torn by her love for a
handsome aristocrat, this young slave girl clings to her faith in the
living God for deliverance from the forces of decadent Rome.Amazon

An Echo in the Darkness
Turning away from the opulence of Rome, Marcus is led by a whispering
voice from the past into a journey that could set him free from the
darkness of his soul.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Finding
your own unique strength and courage is a major theme of The
Watchers. The characters in this series are as
diverse as they come: different nationalities, male, female, dwarf,
human, dragon, pixie, noble, peasant orphan, young, aged. Yet, no matter
the situation, whether tragic or triumphant, they find ways to grow and
develop into something stronger.

The
main character, Auriella (Aura), is born and lives in a society and
time when girls, especially of her social status, didn't have
opportunities for education or growth, let alone a chance to be a hero.
The Watchers must learn to work together, despite differences, to defeat
Erebus and the Shadow Legion, just as we, no matter our gender, race,
age, circumstances, etc., are capable of great
things.

Strong
men and women grow in all situations and become heroes when one is
needed. They don't think about it, they just do what's
right.

-Deirdra Eden, author of The Watchers Series

Book Summary

Auriella’s
new life as a royal protector is in shambles. The new king ignores her
warnings of a Shadow Legion invasion and he is determined to marry her
off. Ghosts from her past, the discovery of other Watchers, and a
handsome Scottish warrior throw her off guard and weaken her emotional
defenses. Caught in a web of secrecy and betrayal, Auriella struggles to
control and protect the devastating power of Starfire. A terrible truth
and a fateful choice will lead her to her destiny as the fabled Lady of
Neviah, or could shroud the entire world in eternal
darkness.

Filled
with action, romance, drama, and comedy, Hidden Fire is an addicting
read that you won't want to put down.

“Deirdra
Eden has surpassed her earlier achievement in this daring tale of
struggle between good and evil forces that exist in every
universe.” Mark F. Cheney, author of MARK OF THE
JAGUAR

“Thought
provoking and full of action, I didn’t want to put the book down! I
really loved the symbolism and it was a fantastic read.” Mary
G. – age 15

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Most mysteries are a “who-done-it,” but this cozy mystery
series specializes in missing persons. Amelia Moore, founder of the Moore
Detective Agency, and Rick Bonito always solve their case. Her Lost Love is the fifth mystery in the Amelia Moore Detective Series. There is a nice blend of mystery,
romance, and humor. The little sparks of romance between the two detectives
simply add to the mystery of this story.

“I've read this series from the beginning and come to know
and love Amelia and Rick more with each book. These are some of my favorite
cozy mysteries and I know exactly what I'm getting with them--a fun, unique
mystery that isn't too intense, mingled with a sweet, clean romance. I think
Amelia and Rick compliment each other perfectly, both professionally and
personally. Of course, since I'm a romantic at heart, I love the romantic
moments in the story.” --Katie Watkins, Katies Clean Book Collection

Julie Anderson feels a need to find the man she fell deeply
in love with during her youth. When Julie went off to college to become a
lawyer, she lost contact with her high school sweetheart. She now wants to know
what became of Joey and why he stopped writing to her? This is an assignment
that intrigues Amelia. The thought of finding a long-lost love seems quite
romantic.

“I love long-lost love stories,”
wrote Melanie Valderrama of Mel’s Shelves. “So this one grabbed my interest
right from the beginning. What I enjoy about this series is that there's always
more to each case than they originally think. This case was no different. I
love how their personal relationship is progressing and am excited to see what
happens next. Rick is so irresistible and romantic and he steps up big time in
this book. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more!”

Each novel in this mystery series
has enough twists to keep the reader guessing. “Her Lost Love” not only has a case for Amelia and Rick to solve,
but the romance is intriguing. Library of Clean Reads wrote: “This is a fast-paced, creative mystery that has at its
heart crime, archaeological digs, romance, ‘good guys and bad’ that combine to
make an interesting, quick read.”

The books in the Amelia Moore
Detective Series are The Bali Mystery,
The Shamrock Case, The Missing Heir, and The Mysterious Doll. For more
information or to read sample chapters, visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com.

Linda Weaver
Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching people to write their
family history and autobiography. She is the author of several historical sweet
romances, a mystery/adventure series, a children’s book, and a cozy mystery
series.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

About the Book:
Following the trauma of her estranged husband's untimely death, Emma
Lowell is happy with the life she has rebuilt for herself. She's engaged
to a wonderful man and anticipates a fresh start, free from her
troubled past. Only one persistent obstacle remains: Margaret Lowell,
her former mother-in-law. Margaret continues to be a demanding presence
in Emma's life, and her requests have become increasingly disconcerting.
When Margaret asks Emma to accompany her on a sentimental journey to
the family s mountain cabin, the young woman reluctantly agrees. After
all, her fiancé is out of town. No one will miss her. Emma could never
have suspected the horror that awaits in the snow-bound cabin, for
beneath Margaret Lowell's elderly façade lies a sinister and terrifying
nature and a plot born of insanity. Alarmed by the dark plan that
unfolds, Emma struggles to escape the isolated cabin in a chilling game
of cat and mouse. As the danger escalates, and with little hope of
rescue, Emma must engage in a battle of wills if she is to avoid
becoming the final piece in Margaret's twisted puzzle . . .

Saturday, April 25, 2015

In the mood for a good mystery? Check out Crooked House, the newest book in the Erica Coleman mystery series.

Blurb for Crooked House

Someone
is trying to kill Liz Johnson and it’s up to quirky private investigator, Erica
Coleman, to find out who. Erica is
no stranger to murder and mystery, which is why her best friend’s daughter,
Megan, turns to her when unaccountable and potentially fatal “accidents”
threaten her roommate’s life.

Once Erica arrives at the ramshackle old
mansion known as Crooked House, matters go from disturbing to deadly as it
becomes clear someone is trying to kill Liz.As Erica begins to unearth secrets, she
discovers a twisted web of love, money, greed, and deception. Although the
police and friends sometimes find Erica’s OCD annoying, its those very traits that
help her sift through evidence and see clues that others miss. Erica must draw
upon her all her investigative prowess to keep Liz safe and unmask the killer
before he can accomplish his deadly objective.

With a
dash of romance and surprising twists, this thrilling mystery will keep you on
the edge of your seat until the very last page. As with all Erica Coleman
mysteries, ten delicious recipes are included.

Excerpt from Crooked House

“I’m scared.”

Erica’s heart turned over when she heard
the quaver in her young friend’s voice on the phone.

Then Megan asked, “Can you come?”

“Of
course.” Erica’s reply was automatic. She would do anything she could to help.
Although she often received emotionally-laden phone calls in her job as a
private investigator, there was a difference when the call came from the teen-aged
daughter of her best friend. The very fact that Megan—who was usually so calm
and composed—sounded frightened out of her wits, put Erica on high alert.

“No, but Liz has had a couple of serious accidents
lately—at least she says they’re
accidents, but either one of them could have killed her.”

Erica made an effort to reel in her
skepticism. “Tell me about them.”

“First, someone tampered with her car. The
brakes went out and Liz ended up driving across someone’s yard and hitting a
tree. Fortunately, she was okay. The second one happened downtown. Liz was on
the sidewalk waiting for the bus when someone shoved her. She fell into the
road. A truck was coming and if a guy hadn’t pulled her back, Liz could have
been killed.”

Still, they could have been accidents,
Erica thought, at least until the third one occurred—this time at Crooked House.

Crooked House and the first two books in the Erica Coleman Mystery Series are available at these retailers, as well as Deseret Book and Seagull bookstores.

Marlene Bateman
was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and graduated from the University of Utah
with a BA in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan.Her hobbies include gardening, camping,
reading, and enjoying her four cats and three dogs.

Marlene’s first
novel was the best-selling Light on Fire
Island. Her next novel was Motive for
Murder—the first in a mystery series that features Erica Coleman, a quirky
private eye with OCD. The next book in
that line, (they do not have to be
read in order) is A Death in the Family.

Marlene has also
written a number of LDS non-fiction books under the name Marlene Bateman Sullivan.
Those books include:Gaze Into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in
Early Church History, which is a fascinating collection of over 50
documented near-death experiences from the lives of early latter-day Saints, Heroes of Faith, and Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines. Marlene also wrote three books about
documented accounts in early LDS church history when a person either saw or
heard an angel; Visit’s From Beyond the
Veil, And There Were Angels Among Them, and By the Ministering of Angels.